US20090058053A1 - Inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether - Google Patents
Inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090058053A1 US20090058053A1 US11/848,646 US84864607A US2009058053A1 US 20090058053 A1 US20090058053 A1 US 20090058053A1 US 84864607 A US84864607 A US 84864607A US 2009058053 A1 US2009058053 A1 US 2009058053A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tether
- panel
- airbag
- attachment point
- inflatable curtain
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/233—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
- B60R21/2338—Tethers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
- B60R21/2338—Tethers
- B60R2021/23386—External tether means
- B60R2021/23388—External tether means having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R21/232—Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
Definitions
- the invention relates to an inflatable side curtain airbag to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an associated tether for controlling position of the inflatable curtain during deployment.
- Tethers for controlling position of an inflatable curtain are generally known. Typically, these tethers are made separately from the inflatable curtain and are attached to the inflatable curtain in a separate manufacturing step at a desired location on the inflatable curtain. The opposite end of the tether typically is attached to the car body with a metal bracket.
- the side curtain airbag to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of the vehicle can include at least one panel of material defining an inflatable curtain having at least one expandable chamber, a tether integrally formed from a salvaged area of the at least one panel of material and attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the curtain during inflation.
- a side curtain airbag can include an inflatable curtain having at least one expandable chamber to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle, and when inflated, the chamber can expand from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle, and the tether attached to the inflatable curtain at one end and attachable to structural pillar of the vehicle at an opposite end for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation.
- the tether is formed from a salvage area of the inflatable curtain.
- a method for making a side curtain airbag for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of a vehicle and to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include forming an inflatable curtain from at least one panel of material defining at least one expandable chamber, forming a tether integrally from a salvage area of the at least one panel of material, and attaching the tether at an attachment point to an inflatable curtain at one end and having an opposite end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion and folding the tether inboard or outboard and forward or rearward;
- FIG. 2 is a folded detail of the tether-mounting tab created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten an outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar;
- FIG. 3 is an unfolded detail of the tether-mounting tab illustrating a plurality of apertures which are coaxially aligned with one another when folded and sewn as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a front or rear side edge of an airbag curtain or cushion, the tether-mounting tab being created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten an outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar, and an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed to a desired location by folding inboard or outboard and toward a lower edge, then folding forward or rearward where the tether material is sewn at a tether attachment point to the airbag curtain or cushion;
- FIG. 5 is a plan view of a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether-mounting tab being created by folding over and forming a loop for attachment to a metal tether bracket and sewn to hold the bracket with respect to an outer end of the tether, an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed by folding inboard or outboard and toward a side edge, then folding forward or rearward to a desired tether attachment point where the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion;
- FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area from a front or rear side portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether-mounting tab being created by folding over the material to form a loop which is sewn to secure a metal tether bracket to an outer end of the tether, an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed by folding inboard or outboard and toward a lower edge, then folding forward or rearward to a desired tether attachment point where the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion;
- FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, the tether having mounting tab being created on an outer end as illustrated in either FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 , and an inner end of the tether being separated from the salvage area and positioned on an inboard side or outboard side at a desired tether attachment point where the inner end of the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion;
- FIG. 8 is a detailed view of an outer end of the tether being folded over multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar;
- FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an outer end of the tether being folded over to form a loop and sewn to attach a metal tether bracket to the end which can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar;
- FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a front or rear side edge of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether having mounting tab being created as illustrated in either FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 at an outer end which can be used to fasten the tether to a vehicle pillar, an inner end of the tether being separated from the salvage area and positioned on an inboard side or outboard side at a desired tether attachment point where the inner end of the tether can be sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion;
- FIG. 11 is a detailed view of a tether having mounting tab being created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten the tether to a vehicle pillar;
- FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a tether having mounting tab being created by folding over the material to create a loop for attachment of a metal tether bracket, when loop material is sewn to maintain the metal tether bracket attached to the loop, where the metal tether bracket can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar.
- a side curtain airbag 10 to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include at least one panel 12 of material defining an inflatable curtain 14 having at least one expandable chamber 16 .
- a tether 18 is formed from a salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material and is attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle at an outer end 22 for anchoring the side curtain airbag 10 during inflation.
- the tether 18 can be formed from a salvage area 20 along a portion of the at least one panel 12 selected from a group consisting of a front or rear salvage area 24 , 26 (as illustrated in FIGS. 4 , 6 , or 10 ), and a bottom salvage area 28 (as illustrated in FIGS.
- the tether 18 can be detached from salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material.
- the tether 18 can be attached to the panel 12 defining the inflatable curtain 14 at any desired tether attachment point 30 location at an inner end 32 of the tether 18 .
- the tether 18 can remain intact with the salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material.
- the tether 18 can be routed upward and outward and then extend outward as illustrated in FIGS.
- the tether 18 can be attached to the panel 12 by being folded and sewn.
- the tether 18 remaining intact with the salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material can alternatively be routed downward and inward, and then extend outward as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 on either the inboard or the outboard side of the inflatable curtain 14 , where the tether can be attached to the panel 12 by being folded and sewn at any desired tether attachment point 30 .
- the tether attachment point 30 can be defined by a reinforced attachment structure providing material thicknesses at the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 to the panel 12 of material, where the tether is folded over on itself at least once at the tether attachment point 30 .
- the tether attachment point 30 can be located either forward of a front seam 34 or rearward of a rear seam 36 of the inflatable curtain 14 and on either the inboard side or the outboard side of the curtain 14 .
- the tether mounting tab 40 can include at least one mounting aperture 42 formed therein, through which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten the outer end 22 of the tether 18 to a structural pillar of a vehicle.
- the tether mounting tab 40 can be formed with a roil fold 44 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and also illustrated in FIGS. 1 , 4 , 8 , and 11 . As illustrated in FIGS.
- the tether mounting tab 40 can be folded to define a loop 46 in which a metal tether bracket 48 can be secured by a sewn area 50 , where the metal tether bracket 48 can be used to fasten the outer end 22 of the tether 18 to a vehicle pillar.
- the inflatable curtain 14 has at least one expandable chamber 16 and is adapted to be installed within a vehicle in stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle. When inflated, the chamber 16 expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition with the inflatable curtain 14 in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle.
- Tether 18 is attached to the inflatable curtain 14 at one end 32 and is attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle at an opposite end 22 for anchoring the inflatable curtain 14 during inflation.
- a method for making a side curtain airbag 10 for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle and to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include forming an inflatable curtain 14 from at least one panel of material 12 defining at least one expandable chamber 16 , forming a tether 18 from a salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material, and attaching the tether 18 at an attachment point 30 to the inflatable curtain at one end 32 and having an opposite end 22 attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain 14 during inflation.
- the method for making a side curtain airbag 10 can include forming a tether 18 from salvage area 20 along an area of the at least one panel 12 selected from a group consisting of a front or rear salvage area 24 , 26 , and a bottom salvage area 28 of the panel 12 .
- the tether 18 can either be detached from the salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material and subsequently attached at an inner end 32 of the tether 18 to the at least one panel 12 defining inflatable curtain 14 at a desired location or attachment point 30 , either on an inboard side or an outboard side, or the tether 18 can have a portion 32 left integrally intact with the salvage area 20 of the at least one panel 12 of material, such that the tether 18 is routed to a desired location or attachment point 30 on the at least one panel 12 defining the inflatable curtain 14 , and subsequently attached to the at least one panel 12 at a desired location or attachment point 30 , either on an inboard side or an outboard side.
- the method can include folding an outer end 22 of the tether 18 over on itself in sufficient layers to create a reinforced mounting tab 40 .
- At least one mounting aperture 42 can be formed in the reinforced mounting tab 40 .
- the mounting aperture 42 created in the mounting tab 40 can be of sufficient size to receive a mechanical fastener used to fasten the tether 18 to a vehicle pillar,
- the method can include forming the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 on an inboard side 54 of the airbag 10 .
- the method can include forming the attachment point 30 of the tether 10 on an outboard side 56 of the airbag 10 .
- the method can also include forming the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 at most no higher than a lower edge 58 of the expandable chamber 16 of the airbag 10 .
- the attachment point 30 of the tether 10 can be formed spaced apart from a cut line 60 along which the salvage area 20 is cut to form the tether 10 of the airbag 10 .
- the attachment point 30 of the tether 10 can be formed spaced apart from a bottom edge 62 of the airbag 10 .
- the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 can be formed spaced apart from a front or rear side edge 64 of the airbag 10 .
- the method can include folding the attachment point 30 of the tether 10 , either inboard or outboard, downward toward a lower edge 62 of the airbag 10 , then folding the tether 18 outward extending toward a front or rear side edge 64 of the airbag 10 , and sewing the tether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlapping layers 66 formed by the folds, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6 .
- the method can include folding the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 upward toward a front or rear side edge 64 of the airbag 10 , either inboard or outboard, then folding the tether 18 outward extending toward a front or rear side edge 64 of the airbag 10 , and sewing the tether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlapping layers 66 formed by the folds as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 .
- the method can include folding the opposite end 22 of the tether 18 toward a lower edge 62 of the airbag 10 , then folding the tether 18 toward a front edge 64 of the airbag 10 , and sewing the tether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlapping layers 66 formed by the folds, as best seen in FIG. 4 and 6 .
- the method can also include passing the opposite end 22 of the tether 18 through a mounting bracket 48 , folding the opposite end 22 of the tether 18 on itself, and sewing the tether 18 to the bracket 48 through overlapping layers 68 formed by the folds as best seen in FIGS. 5 , 6 , 9 and 12 .
- the method can include roll-folding the opposite end 22 of the tether 18 on itself to form overlapping layers 70 , sewing the overlapping layers 70 formed by the roll-folded end 44 together, and forming an aperture 42 in the tether 18 through the overlapping layers 70 formed by the roll-fold 44 for attachment with a fastener to a bracket and/or a frame member of the vehicle.
- the method can form the tether 18 from the salvage area 20 trimmed as excess from the at one least one panel 12 of material used to form the side curtain airbag 10 .
- the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 or the attachment point 72 of the bracket 48 to the tether 18 can be a sewn pattern 74 , where the pattern 74 is a square shape 76 with an internal X pattern 78 .
- the method can include sewing a pattern 74 at the attachment point 30 or 72 of the tether 18 where the pattern 74 is entirely located on the tether 18 .
- a pattern 74 can be sewn to pass at least partially through two layers of tether 18 and one layer of airbag 10 at the attachment point 30 .
- a pattern 74 can be sewn at the attachment point 30 of the tether 18 , where the tether 18 is not entirely removed from the airbag 10 , and the pattern 74 passes at least partially through at least three layers of material.
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Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to an inflatable side curtain airbag to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle with an associated tether for controlling position of the inflatable curtain during deployment.
- Tethers for controlling position of an inflatable curtain are generally known. Typically, these tethers are made separately from the inflatable curtain and are attached to the inflatable curtain in a separate manufacturing step at a desired location on the inflatable curtain. The opposite end of the tether typically is attached to the car body with a metal bracket.
- It would be desirable to create a tether by cutting a pattern out of a salvage area on the front, rear, or bottom of the inflatable curtain material. The side curtain airbag to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of the vehicle can include at least one panel of material defining an inflatable curtain having at least one expandable chamber, a tether integrally formed from a salvaged area of the at least one panel of material and attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the curtain during inflation.
- A side curtain airbag can include an inflatable curtain having at least one expandable chamber to be installed within a vehicle in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle, and when inflated, the chamber can expand from the stowed condition to a deployed condition generally in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle, and the tether attached to the inflatable curtain at one end and attachable to structural pillar of the vehicle at an opposite end for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation. The tether is formed from a salvage area of the inflatable curtain.
- A method for making a side curtain airbag for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of a vehicle and to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include forming an inflatable curtain from at least one panel of material defining at least one expandable chamber, forming a tether integrally from a salvage area of the at least one panel of material, and attaching the tether at an attachment point to an inflatable curtain at one end and having an opposite end attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring the inflatable curtain during inflation.
- Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
- The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion and folding the tether inboard or outboard and forward or rearward; -
FIG. 2 is a folded detail of the tether-mounting tab created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten an outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar; -
FIG. 3 is an unfolded detail of the tether-mounting tab illustrating a plurality of apertures which are coaxially aligned with one another when folded and sewn as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a front or rear side edge of an airbag curtain or cushion, the tether-mounting tab being created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten an outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar, and an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed to a desired location by folding inboard or outboard and toward a lower edge, then folding forward or rearward where the tether material is sewn at a tether attachment point to the airbag curtain or cushion; -
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether-mounting tab being created by folding over and forming a loop for attachment to a metal tether bracket and sewn to hold the bracket with respect to an outer end of the tether, an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed by folding inboard or outboard and toward a side edge, then folding forward or rearward to a desired tether attachment point where the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion; -
FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area from a front or rear side portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether-mounting tab being created by folding over the material to form a loop which is sewn to secure a metal tether bracket to an outer end of the tether, an inner end of the tether remaining connected to the salvage area and routed by folding inboard or outboard and toward a lower edge, then folding forward or rearward to a desired tether attachment point where the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion; -
FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a bottom portion of an airbag curtain or cushion, the tether having mounting tab being created on an outer end as illustrated in eitherFIG. 8 orFIG. 9 , and an inner end of the tether being separated from the salvage area and positioned on an inboard side or outboard side at a desired tether attachment point where the inner end of the tether is sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion; -
FIG. 8 is a detailed view of an outer end of the tether being folded over multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar; -
FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an outer end of the tether being folded over to form a loop and sewn to attach a metal tether bracket to the end which can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar; -
FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a tether being created by taking part of a salvage area along a front or rear side edge of an airbag curtain or cushion, a tether having mounting tab being created as illustrated in eitherFIG. 11 orFIG. 12 at an outer end which can be used to fasten the tether to a vehicle pillar, an inner end of the tether being separated from the salvage area and positioned on an inboard side or outboard side at a desired tether attachment point where the inner end of the tether can be sewn to the airbag curtain or cushion; -
FIG. 11 is a detailed view of a tether having mounting tab being created by folding over the material multiple times to create a tab in which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten the tether to a vehicle pillar; and -
FIG. 12 is a detailed view of a tether having mounting tab being created by folding over the material to create a loop for attachment of a metal tether bracket, when loop material is sewn to maintain the metal tether bracket attached to the loop, where the metal tether bracket can be used to fasten the outer end of the tether to a vehicle pillar. - Referring now to
FIGS. 1-12 , a side curtain airbag 10 to be deployed downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include at least onepanel 12 of material defining aninflatable curtain 14 having at least oneexpandable chamber 16. Atether 18 is formed from asalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material and is attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle at anouter end 22 for anchoring the side curtain airbag 10 during inflation. Thetether 18 can be formed from asalvage area 20 along a portion of the at least onepanel 12 selected from a group consisting of a front orrear salvage area 24, 26 (as illustrated inFIGS. 4 , 6, or 10), and a bottom salvage area 28 (as illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 5, or 7) of thepanel 12, and any combination thereof As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 10 thetether 18 can be detached fromsalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material. Thetether 18 can be attached to thepanel 12 defining theinflatable curtain 14 at any desiredtether attachment point 30 location at aninner end 32 of thetether 18. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 4, 5, and 6, thetether 18 can remain intact with thesalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material. Thetether 18 can be routed upward and outward and then extend outward as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 5 on either the inboard side or outboard side of theinflatable curtain 14 to any desiredtether attachment point 30, where thetether 18 can be attached to thepanel 12 by being folded and sewn. Thetether 18 remaining intact with thesalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material can alternatively be routed downward and inward, and then extend outward as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 6 on either the inboard or the outboard side of theinflatable curtain 14, where the tether can be attached to thepanel 12 by being folded and sewn at any desiredtether attachment point 30. - The
tether attachment point 30 can be defined by a reinforced attachment structure providing material thicknesses at theattachment point 30 of thetether 18 to thepanel 12 of material, where the tether is folded over on itself at least once at thetether attachment point 30. Thetether attachment point 30 can be located either forward of afront seam 34 or rearward of arear seam 36 of theinflatable curtain 14 and on either the inboard side or the outboard side of thecurtain 14. - An
outer end 22 of thetether 18 can be folded over on itself in sufficient layers to create atether mounting tab 40 as best seen inFIGS. 1-4 , 8, and 11. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 , 6, 9 and 12. Thetether mounting tab 40 can include at least onemounting aperture 42 formed therein, through which a mechanical fastener can be used to fasten theouter end 22 of thetether 18 to a structural pillar of a vehicle. Thetether mounting tab 40 can be formed with aroil fold 44 as best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3 , and also illustrated inFIGS. 1 , 4, 8, and 11. As illustrated inFIGS. 5 , 6, 9, and 12, thetether mounting tab 40 can be folded to define aloop 46 in which ametal tether bracket 48 can be secured by asewn area 50, where themetal tether bracket 48 can be used to fasten theouter end 22 of thetether 18 to a vehicle pillar. - The
inflatable curtain 14 has at least oneexpandable chamber 16 and is adapted to be installed within a vehicle in stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle. When inflated, thechamber 16 expands from the stowed condition to a deployed condition with theinflatable curtain 14 in front of an adjacent side of the vehicle.Tether 18 is attached to theinflatable curtain 14 at oneend 32 and is attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle at anopposite end 22 for anchoring theinflatable curtain 14 during inflation. A method for making a side curtain airbag 10 for installation in a stowed condition proximate a roof rail of the vehicle and to be inflated to a deployed condition extending downward along an inner side surface of a passenger compartment of a vehicle can include forming aninflatable curtain 14 from at least one panel ofmaterial 12 defining at least oneexpandable chamber 16, forming atether 18 from asalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material, and attaching thetether 18 at anattachment point 30 to the inflatable curtain at oneend 32 and having anopposite end 22 attachable to a structural pillar of the vehicle for anchoring theinflatable curtain 14 during inflation. - The method for making a side curtain airbag 10 can include forming a
tether 18 fromsalvage area 20 along an area of the at least onepanel 12 selected from a group consisting of a front orrear salvage area bottom salvage area 28 of thepanel 12. Thetether 18 can either be detached from thesalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material and subsequently attached at aninner end 32 of thetether 18 to the at least onepanel 12 defininginflatable curtain 14 at a desired location orattachment point 30, either on an inboard side or an outboard side, or thetether 18 can have aportion 32 left integrally intact with thesalvage area 20 of the at least onepanel 12 of material, such that thetether 18 is routed to a desired location orattachment point 30 on the at least onepanel 12 defining theinflatable curtain 14, and subsequently attached to the at least onepanel 12 at a desired location orattachment point 30, either on an inboard side or an outboard side. - The method can include folding an
outer end 22 of thetether 18 over on itself in sufficient layers to create a reinforcedmounting tab 40. At least onemounting aperture 42 can be formed in the reinforcedmounting tab 40. Themounting aperture 42 created in themounting tab 40 can be of sufficient size to receive a mechanical fastener used to fasten thetether 18 to a vehicle pillar, - The method can include forming the
attachment point 30 of thetether 18 on aninboard side 54 of the airbag 10. Alternatively, the method can include forming theattachment point 30 of the tether 10 on anoutboard side 56 of the airbag 10. The method can also include forming theattachment point 30 of thetether 18 at most no higher than alower edge 58 of theexpandable chamber 16 of the airbag 10. Theattachment point 30 of the tether 10 can be formed spaced apart from acut line 60 along which thesalvage area 20 is cut to form the tether 10 of the airbag 10. Theattachment point 30 of the tether 10 can be formed spaced apart from abottom edge 62 of the airbag 10. Theattachment point 30 of thetether 18 can be formed spaced apart from a front orrear side edge 64 of the airbag 10. - The method can include folding the
attachment point 30 of the tether 10, either inboard or outboard, downward toward alower edge 62 of the airbag 10, then folding thetether 18 outward extending toward a front orrear side edge 64 of the airbag 10, and sewing thetether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlappinglayers 66 formed by the folds, as best seen inFIGS. 4 and 6 . In another embodiment, the method can include folding theattachment point 30 of thetether 18 upward toward a front orrear side edge 64 of the airbag 10, either inboard or outboard, then folding thetether 18 outward extending toward a front orrear side edge 64 of the airbag 10, and sewing thetether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlappinglayers 66 formed by the folds as best seen inFIGS. 1 and 5 . - The method can include folding the
opposite end 22 of thetether 18 toward alower edge 62 of the airbag 10, then folding thetether 18 toward afront edge 64 of the airbag 10, and sewing thetether 18 to the airbag 10 through overlappinglayers 66 formed by the folds, as best seen inFIG. 4 and 6 . - The method can also include passing the
opposite end 22 of thetether 18 through amounting bracket 48, folding theopposite end 22 of thetether 18 on itself, and sewing thetether 18 to thebracket 48 through overlappinglayers 68 formed by the folds as best seen inFIGS. 5 , 6, 9 and 12. - The method can include roll-folding the
opposite end 22 of thetether 18 on itself to form overlappinglayers 70, sewing the overlappinglayers 70 formed by the roll-foldedend 44 together, and forming anaperture 42 in thetether 18 through the overlappinglayers 70 formed by theroll-fold 44 for attachment with a fastener to a bracket and/or a frame member of the vehicle. - The method can form the
tether 18 from thesalvage area 20 trimmed as excess from the at one least onepanel 12 of material used to form the side curtain airbag 10. Theattachment point 30 of thetether 18 or theattachment point 72 of thebracket 48 to thetether 18 can be asewn pattern 74, where thepattern 74 is asquare shape 76 with aninternal X pattern 78. The method can include sewing apattern 74 at theattachment point tether 18 where thepattern 74 is entirely located on thetether 18. Apattern 74 can be sewn to pass at least partially through two layers oftether 18 and one layer of airbag 10 at theattachment point 30. Apattern 74 can be sewn at theattachment point 30 of thetether 18, where thetether 18 is not entirely removed from the airbag 10, and thepattern 74 passes at least partially through at least three layers of material. - While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
Claims (24)
Priority Applications (1)
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US11/848,646 US7571930B2 (en) | 2007-08-31 | 2007-08-31 | Inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether |
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US11/848,646 US7571930B2 (en) | 2007-08-31 | 2007-08-31 | Inflatable curtain airbag integrated tether |
Publications (2)
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US20090058053A1 true US20090058053A1 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
US7571930B2 US7571930B2 (en) | 2009-08-11 |
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WO2015105560A1 (en) * | 2014-01-08 | 2015-07-16 | Autoliv Asp, Inc. | Cost-effective use of one-piece woven fabric for curtain airbags |
US10065593B2 (en) * | 2015-12-29 | 2018-09-04 | Hyundai Motor Company | Curtain airbag for vehicle |
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CN105793119A (en) * | 2014-01-08 | 2016-07-20 | 奥托里夫Asp股份有限公司 | Cost-effective use of one-piece woven fabric for curtain airbags |
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